Burn Notice?

From Homelife - April 2010 issue:
"Cancer researchers have moved tanning beds to the top-risk category, as deadly as arsenic and mustard gas. If you tan regularly before age 30, you increase your chance of getting skin cancer by 75%. Spray tans are looking better by the ultraviolet minute".

Why am I an advocate against tanning beds? Because in April, 2001, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. I grew up in Virginia Beach...adored the hot sun and tanning beds.

In 1998, I made a pact with myself, after noticing leathery wrinkles and sun damage beginning to make their way to my face, that I would stay out of the sun. Little did I know 3 years later the diagnosis I would receive after noticing a mole on my right thigh that I had never seen before.

Since then, I have had two more spots that looked "suspicious" but were benign. The Dr. blames the tanning bed! This morning, I have my annual melanoma check...9 years cancer free!

The World Health International Agency for Reach on Cancer (IARC) recently announced that it has moved the use of tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category..."carcinogenic to humans". Previous studies have regularly found young people are 8 times more likely to get melanoma.

Needless to say, I am very passionate against the use of tanning beds. My girls have never used one and I hope they never do; they tell me they won't and I trust them.

I am also a user of sunscreen...for 11 years, I have had the whitest skin ever...just as "ghostly" in the summer! Just ask my children what my favorite word is....."reapply" :)

I have just finished reading an amazing book...What Happens When Women say Yes to God, by Lysa Terkeurst, President of Proverbs 31 ministries.
This book was absolutely wonderful to me and extremely convicting; love those type of books! It spoke to me that I need to have radical obedience, knowing and hearing God's will, if it weren't easy, it wouldn't be worth doing (I needed that reminder too!), and the most convicting chapter was Giving up what was never ours.
Oh, how my toes were hurting.

I John 3:18-19 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. I can't count the times that I've "said" I need to do something, but never put action to my words. Lysa reminded me that when we come to understand that we're giving up what was never ours to begin with, we're walking in radical obedience.

She shared the example of a couple, friend's of hers, who were saving money to build their dream home. During this time, their church began a building campaign. God began speaking to them about sacrificing the money they had been saving to give to this campaign...Joyfully, they placed their dreams in God's hands and invested their dream, their finances, for eternity.
Lysa shared about the time she was saving up for a "new outfit fund". She saved $100.00 and set a date with her fashion-savvy friends to go shopping. She was so excited. Just a few days before she was going shopping, a dear friend contacted her and asked her to pray for her family's financial situation. Lysa found out that they needed $100.00 to pay a bill. $100.00....isn't that how much she had just saved? I don't need to tell you what she did. She gave that money to her dear friend to meet a need.

All this to say...would I do that? Would I be willing to give up what I had saved for....money that isn't mine to begin with? I have to admit that my answer is more often "no" than "yes". I see myself as being "tight fisted". Holding on too tight, without freely giving. Being more concerned with making sure I have enough to meet all our needs....and our wants, I must admit.

Once again, God has reminded me to say Yes to Him....and more importantly to trust in Him. Again, giving up what was never mine in the first place.

Malachi 3:10....Test me in this, says the Lord, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

What's cooking?

In trying to eat much healthier, I am searching constantly for recipes and cooking healthier meals. I'm so excited for dinner tonight.


Chinese Sweet-and-Sour Chicken (in the crock pot):

• 1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks in juice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 3 T soy sauce
• 2 T cornstarch
• 1 T preminced oil-packed garlic
• 1 T ground ginger
• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used 5 frozen chicken breasts, cooked and diced)
• 1 cup chopped tri-color bell peppers
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup diced baby carrots

Directions:

Coat the inside of crock pot with cooking spray.

1. Drain the pineapple and set aside, reserving 1 cup of juice. In the crock pot, combine the sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic, ginger, and reserved pineapple juice. Whisk until smooth. Add the chicken, peppers, onion, and carrots. Stir to coat with sauce. Cover and cook on the low-heat setting for 5-6 hours. Stir in the reserved pineapple. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the pineapple is heated.


2. Pour over cooked, brown rice.
   

Now what could be better than crock pot cooking (well, except for a Reeses cup). I've have already test-tasted this and it is absolutely delicious! Side note: I did double the sauce recipe because I know that brown rice has the tendency to soak up all the juice.

Only took 10 minutes to prepare!

Nutrition: (6-servings)

• per serving: 335 calories; 11.5 g fat; 28 carbs; 30 g protein

Do unto others...I mean your spouse!

Several weeks ago in our Sunday School class, Scott spoke to us about how we treat others. Do we judge others? Are we encouraging? Do we take time to visit with others when they are in need? When we're standing in the Walmart line and it's just about our turn to check out, a price check is needed....then how do you react? If you are cut off in traffic, do you immediately lay on your horn, or do you just smile and keep on driving.
(side note: I used to be a "horn blower"...until I moved to Charlotte. Alot of impatient people leave here in this city and I'm learning to be much more patient. I've never heard so many horns in one town. If you sit at a traffic light for more than 1 second after it has just turned green, you're gonna get beeped at. It has become one of my biggest irritants. I'm thinking, "come on people...relax...smile...slow down").

So, how do you "do unto others"? Then he brought it close to home...and how do you "do unto your spouse"? If your husband or wife forgets something, if they spill something, break something...how do you react? Do we automatically think the worst? How is your tone of voice with your spouse? We were reminded that we should treat our spouses just as we would like to be treated. We should treat our spouses better than we treat anyone else.

It's made me more aware of my "tone", my facial expressions, my sarcasm (ouch), that I use so often with my husband. I think I'm doing better.

Answered prayers...

Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear".
I am so thankful that I serve a God...the one and only God...who hears my prayers before I even call on Him. What peace...knowing that whatever need I have, my God is aware of it before I even utter it from my lips. And He always answers my prayer. It may not always be the answer I want, but comforting, because I know He answers according to His perfect will. And that is exactly the answer I need!
Isaiah 30:19 "How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you".

Routine....

For those of you who know me...really know me...you'll know I am a person who LOVES routine! I basically keep the same schedule: up at 5:50, wash face, apply moisturizer, spritz of cucumber toner (don't ask me what that does, but it feels refreshing), wake Caleb for school, walk stupid (okay, not a nice word, but one that we have bestowed on our dog, Max...he's spoiled rotten, but a few fries short of a happy meal). Then straight to the kitchen to make smoothies, take Caleb to school, back home to make my coffee, taking it straight to my favorite couch, with Bible and Bible study in hand (oh and my reading glasses because I now cannot see without them). With Max curled up by my feet, I wrap up in my cozy blanket and spend my time with the Lord, during this time Scott will come over and we will spend our time in prayer together before he heads for church.

Not kidding, it's the same thing every morning...this schedule does not change. I am a routine person. I do not like anything to come in the way of my routine.

My day continues with a schedule...things I do at certain times. I've been blessed with a job that allows me to work from home Monday through Wednesday, when it's convenient for me...and then I go into the office on Thursday and Friday...same time...to the minute. Again, scheduled...routine.

Scott spoke several months ago in our Sunday School class on interruptions. My toes were aching when I left that class. God had once again spoken directly to me. There's little time in my day for interruptions...I don't do well with interruptions. But God continually places them strategically throughout my day...to get my attention. To let me know that each day is about Him...not me! Lately, I'm doing better with being interrupted...because I know where and who they are coming from. I'm learning to take deep breaths and count each interruption as a privilege; a blessing!